(TheProudRepublic.com) – In a move to protect the fair rule of law and due process, House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik has called upon Attorney General Merrick Garland to initiate an investigation into Michael Cohen, former lawyer of Donald Trump, on the grounds of perjury during his Congressional testimony.
This request, articulated in a letter co-authored with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner of Ohio, points to discrepancies in Cohen’s statements between his 2019 Congressional testimony and his recent declarations in Trump’s civil business fraud trial in New York.
The core of Cohen’s testimony, both in Congress and the New York court, revolved around his allegations of financial misconduct by Trump. Stefanik, a prominent New York Republican and a fierce Trump supporter, and Turner argued that the variance in Cohen’s testimonies indicates potential falsehoods.
“Mr. Cohen’s prior conviction for lying to Congress merits a heightened suspicion that he has yet again testified falsely before Congress,” the Representatives stated in the letter, urging Garland to consider if Cohen’s testimony could constitute another violation of federal perjury laws.
This move by Stefanik marks her second attempt in less than a week to challenge the lies spread by Trump’s legal adversaries. Before this, Stefanik filed an ethics complaint against the judge overseeing Trump’s business fraud trial. These actions come amid rumors of Stefanik being a potential vice-presidential candidate in Trump’s 2024 campaign bid.
Responding to these allegations, Cohen accused Stefanik and Turner of engaging in activities akin to witness tampering and obstructing justice, dismissing their claims as unfounded. He defended the discrepancies in his testimony, differentiating between explicit and implied directives and maintaining that he had accurately answered the questions posed to him.
Cohen’s involvement in the civil fraud trial, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, is pivotal. James accuses Trump and his associates of inflating his net worth to secure financial benefits. The trial poses a significant threat to Trump’s business operations.
During his 2019 deposition before the House Intelligence Committee, Cohen was questioned about Trump’s instructions regarding asset value inflation in financial statements. Cohen initially denied any direct request from Trump to inflate numbers.
However, his later testimony in the New York trial contradicted this statement, although he claimed that Trump’s manner of communication was indirect, akin to that of a “mob boss,” implying rather than explicitly stating his desires. Cohen argued that Trump directed him and former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to inflate asset values.
